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Abuse victims’ support wins grant

A PROJECT supporting domestic abuse victims who are taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton, is one of more than 50 schemes across Avon and Somerset to have received cash from a £2.6million fund.

Avon and Somerset’s Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens announced this week that £2,669,868 has been awarded this year to 56 initiatives in the force area which promote community safety in some way.

The biggest grants went to three schemes covering the whole of Avon and Somerset:

£227,604 to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which provides specialist medical and forensic services and support for victims

And £125,995 towards Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, who look after victims of rape or sexual assault throughout the criminal justice process

A further £54,000 has gone towards Independent Domestic Abuse Advisors in hospitals, including Musgrove.

The Greenways Project, making an unused area of land available for communities in Rockwell Green and Westford Grange, Wellington, has received £9,480, while other projects to receive money include: Third Party Reporting, which aims to provide a number of hate crime reporting centres across Somerset; the Somerset Community Justice Panel, which provides restorative justice; and Adult Fire Setters, a project involving Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, which aims to address the behaviour of people who start fires deliberately.

Announcing the list of projects this week, Sue Mountstevens said: “Working closely with community safety partners I am delighted with what has been achieved in the past year.

“I feel a real impact has been made on the Police and Crime Plan priorities and the growth of strong relationships have helped deliver our shared aim of making the communities of Avon and Somerset feel safe and be safe.

“The £2.6 million funding this year will continue to nurture and develop both existing and new local projects. A continued focus for partners and the Constabulary will be restorative justice and transforming victims’ services and this funding will make a real difference in those areas.”